Cup stars back for warm up

TJ Perenara, leading the Hurricanes at Eketahuna. PHOTO/FILE

ALL BLACKS halfback TJ Perenara will captain the Hurricanes for the first time during Saturday's Investec Super Rugby preseason match against the Blues.

Perenara will lead a run-on side featuring five World Cup winning All Blacks for the annual fixture at Eketahuna Rugby Club.

Fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder, wing Julian Savea, halves Beauden Barrett and Perenara as well as No8 Victor Vito, will all play for the first time since their World Cup final win over Australia last year.

The match will also feature the Hurricanes debut of former Warriors rugby league player and NRL rookie of the year Ngani Laumape, who will combine with centre Matt Proctor in the midfield.

Laumape, along with wing Cory Jane, were among a sizeable group of Hurricanes players who missed the team's opening pre-season match against the Force in Sydney last weekend.

Hurricanes 2016 vice-captain Perenara takes the leadership role in the absence of season skipper Dane Coles, who is attending a wedding, with Samoan World Cup hooker Motu Matu'u starting in the No2 jersey.

The Hurricanes will have one more pre-season match, against the Crusaders in Blenheim, before their season kicks off against the Brumbies in Canberra on February 26.

The Hurricanes starting line-up for Eketahuna is:

Nehe Milner-Skudder; Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett; TJ Perenara; Victor Vito; Callum Gibbins, Mark Abbott, Blade Thomson, Brad Shields; Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Motu Matu'u, Reggie Goodes.

The reserves will be picked from: Leni Apisai, Chris Eves, Ben May, Hisa Sasagi, Loni Uhila, James Blackwell, Vaea Fifita, Tony Lamborn, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, James Marshall, Pita Ahki, Willis Halaholo, Jason Woodward, Wes Goosen, Malo Tuitama.